Nilpotence of orbits under monodromy and the length of Melnikov functions (Q2077618)

The authors consider the infinitesimal 16th Hilbert's problem. Let \(F \in \mathbb{C}[x, y]\) be a complex polynomial, \(\gamma(z) \in \pi_1 (F^{-1}(z))\) be a non-trivial cycle in a generic fiber of \(F\) and let \(\omega\) be a polynomial \(1\)-form. The object of interest is the polynomial deformation \(dF + \epsilon\omega =0\) of the integrable foliation given by \(F\). Different invariants, say the orbit depth \(k\), the nilpotence class \(n\), the derivative length \(d\) associated with the couple \((F, \gamma )\), are under consideration. These invariants bind the length \(\ell\) of the first nonzero Melnikov function of the deformation \(dF +\epsilon \omega\), along \(\gamma\). The authors consider the variation of the aforementioned invariants in a simple but informative example, where the polynomial \(F\) is defined by a product of four lines in \(\mathbb{C}^2\). A relation of this behavior with the length of the corresponding Godbillon-Vey sequence is studied. The present work is related to the previous study [Ann. Inst. Henri Poincaré, Anal. Non Linéaire 36, No. 7, 1941--1957 (2019; Zbl 1435.37086)] by the same authors.